“It hurt in my heart to see myself leave Cincinnati,” he said. “I’m still loyal to this city, I still stay here in Fort Thomas and I have a place in Covington also, so I’m still in this city. I’m still Mr. Cincinnati, regardless of what anyone else says. I still run this piece.”

Phillips said his time in Cincinnati under head coach Bryan Price was not the best, but preferred to focus on his time working with former head coach Dusty Baker.

“The last three years over here were not the best, but when Dusty was over here, there were a lot of great memories and great times. The city was really lit at the time.”

Phillips said that though he’s upset he’s not with the Reds, he’s happy to be where he’s at in Atlanta.

The 35-year-old All-Star, a fan favorite in Cincinnati, was in the final year of his six-year, $72.5 million contract with the Reds.

He was greeted by a standing ovation when he took the field Friday.

Cincinnati won 3-2 over the Braves. Devin Mesoraco led off the 10th with his first career game-ending homer.